Taxi Driver Online

Swindon man who posed as taxi driver found guilty of rape

https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/news/wi ... y-of-rape/

A man from Swindon, who pretended to be a taxi driver, has been found guilty of raping a woman.

Fareed Tariq, 43, of Barnum Court, was found guilty by a majority verdict yesterday (19/02) at Swindon Crown Court following a trial.

Tariq has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Swindon Crown Court for sentencing on April 3.

DS Emma Kinderman, from CID said: "This was a horrendous incident, where Tariq pretended to be a taxi driver and picked up a vulnerable woman after a night out. He took her to a quiet area and raped her before picking up her son from her friend's house.

"This is the second time that Tariq has been found guilty of raping a woman after a night out. He was jailed for six years in 2012.

"I'd like to thank the victim for her incredible bravery through reporting the incident and through what must have been a really difficult trial, reliving a traumatic experience. Without her continued assistance, the outcome would not have been possible.

"We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault to please report it, do not suffer alone. We understand it can be difficult. You might not be completely sure what happened or how to talk about it. Our trained officers and partner organisations are here to listen and work together to support you in any way we can. Importantly, your information could help us bring the offender to justice and make sure you, and other people in a similar situation, are kept safe."

The reports from 2012 don't mention the t-word at all, so it's not clear if it was also a fake taxi driver incident back then.

One report says:


While another says:


Obviously there's no suggestion of deception in the first report, while there is in the second, but whether that was a taxi-style deception isn't clear.

But the latest incident certainly suggests it was something along those lines

Sounds very likely that the previous attack was a fake taxi situation.

I very much doubt the Judge will be generous to him with the sentence.

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IDFIMH

2012 was when the Halliwill murders were going on so it might have not got so much coverage because of that major story

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Man posing as a taxi driver jailed for raping woman decade after near identical case

https://www.cps.gov.uk/wessex/news/man- ... tical-case



A man posing as a taxi driver who lured a lone woman into his car before raping her has been jailed – over a decade after committing a near-identical crime.

On 15 April 2023, Fareed Issa Tariq, 43, picked up the woman as she was waiting for a taxi after a night out in Swindon and then drove to a quiet layby where he sexually assaulted her.

Having pleaded not guilty and instead trying to blame the victim for his shocking crime, prosecutors with CPS Wessex dismantled Tariq’s lies by compiling strong forensic, witness and phone evidence at trial to secure a conviction for rape.

Crucially, the prosecution also succeeded in putting forward bad character evidence which outlined to the jury how Tariq had committed a near-identical crime in 2011; making the case that his previous conviction was relevant to the trial and could be disclosed.

In 2012, Tariq was convicted of rape after he offered a lift to a woman following a night out in Swindon, before driving to a secluded area and raping her.

Lisa Garcia, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said: “Fareed Tariq is a danger to women.

“Not only did he pose as a taxi driver to prey on a lone victim, Tariq then cruelly tried to blame her for his depraved crime.

“The fact he committed a strikingly similar crime over a decade ago shows he is devoid of remorse and remains a threat to the public.

“We hope his conviction sends a clear message that the CPS is committed to prosecuting rape cases and that we will always strive to deliver justice for victims.”

In the early hours of Saturday 15 April 2023, the victim booked a taxi to return home after a night out and received confirmation from the taxi company that one would arrive imminently.

Spotting the woman, Tariq presented himself as a taxi driver – luring the victim into his car before driving away.

During the journey, he began touching her inappropriately despite her asking him to stop. He then drove into a layby and raped her.

Tariq initially claimed that he had no sexual contact with the woman, but in a later attempt to cover up his crime when faced with incriminating forensic evidence, he blamed the victim for his DNA being present.

At trial, prosecutors outlined evidence from a forensic scientist whose findings discredited Tariq’s claims of how his DNA was present.

Today, at Swindon Crown Court, Tariq was sentenced to a total of 18 years' imprisonment.

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